Tv and fully reclining chairs and hardware therefor

ABSTRACT

Two tubular cross braces interconnect the arms of a chair frame, to support the load on the seat and to keep the arms from spreading apart. The braces are at opposed upwardly divergent 45* angles to get the upper mounting points of the braces to the frame, further apart to get maximum bearing area. The braces have a middle downward bend to provide clearance for a soft seat and to strengthen the braces. The cross braces support reclining chair linkage hardware. These linkages are provided with sequencing mechanism so arranged that the chair goes from closed upright position to an intermediate TV position before going to a fully reclined position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Arlen H. Ferguson Tupelo, Miss.

[2 I 1 Appl. No. 792,419

[22] Filed Jan. 21, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 l 73] AssigneeMohasco Industries, Inc.

Amsterdam, N.Y.

[54] TV AND FULLY RECLINING CHAIRS AND 3,330,597 7/1967 Lay 297/4453,408,965 11/1968 Hamilton 248/188.91 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,024,816 2/1958.Germany 297/445 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney-J. B.Felshin ABSTRACT: Two tubular cross braces interconnect the arms of achair frame, to support the load on the seat and to keep the arms fromspreading apart. The braces are at opposed upwardly divergent 45 anglesto get the upper mounting points of the braces to the frame, furtherapart to get maximum bearing area. The braces have a middle downwardbend to provide clearance for a soft seat and to strengthen the braces.The cross braces support reclining chair linkage hardware. Theselinkages are provided with sequencing mechanism so arranged that thechair goes from closed upright position to an intermediate TV positionbefore going to a fully reclined position.

PATENTEU MARSO 197i SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR. ARM/V F626 1/30 TV AND FULLYRECLINING CHAIRS AND HARDWARE THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to hardware for recliningresters and loungers.

2. Description of the Prior Art I-Ieretofore linkages were supported onstraight wood cross braces which often allowed sidearrns of chairsupports to pull apart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide, in areclining chair of the character described, metal cross-brace meansinterconmeeting the arms of the chair frame and supporting recliningchair hardware interconnecting the seat and leg-rest, and preventing thechair frame arms from spreading apart;

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a reclining chair ofthe character. described, cross-brace means which may be used with agreat variety of recliner hardware, and comprising a pair of cross-bracemembers which diverge up wardly and outwardly, whereby to supportarm-mounting members at closer spaced points and which are attached tothe chair frame arms at more outwardly spaced points, to get maximumbearing area, said brace members being centrally depressed for strengthand to allow use of softer seats without the seats contacting thecross-brace members when the chair is occupied, and further being soattached to the arms as to prevent said brace members from turningrelative to said arms.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a strong 7 anddurable recliner chair hardware construction of the character described,which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble,which shall be smooth in operation, easy to incorporate into chairs, andwhich shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of con struction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of invention will be. indicated in the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of arecliner high-legged lounger chair provided with cross-brace meanssupporting recliner hardware and embodying the invention, and shown inclosed position;

FIG. 2 is a transverse view of one of the brace members attached to theside arms of the chair frame;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a crossasectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4a is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating a modifiedconstruction;

FIG. ib is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating the structure ofFIG. 4a;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the recliner mechanism shown inFIG. I, in closed position;

FIG. 6 is a view of the structure shown in FIG. 5, but shown in TV orintermediate position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the recliner mechanismin fully reclined position; and

FIG. 8 is a top pian view of the structure of FIG. 5, but in an openposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to FIGS.l8 of the drawing, 10 designates a chair, here shown in the form of alounger, provided with recliner hardware 11 and support means 12therefor, embodying one form of the invention.

The chair III comprises sidcarms I3 including arm side rails 13a inparallel planes supported on front legs I4 and rear legs 15.

Side rails 13 incline upwardly and forwardly somewhat, and have upperedges I6, lower edges 17, inner faces iii, outer faces 19, front ends 20and rear ends 21.

The sideanns of reclining chairs have heretofore been built with awooden crossmember that spaces the arms apart and supports the load onthe seat, which is the occupant. The wooden crossmembers have provenunsatisfactory in high leg chairs because they are too weak, so that thesidearms tend to part and the wood supports are too weak to support theoccupant. As one cure for this difficulty, manufacturers have addedsteel angles to the woodboard, at both ends, which requiredtime-consuming labor and expense. Furthennore, these straight wood crossbraces were often contacted by the seat, so that the seats had to befairly firm not to sag into contact with such wood cross braces, so thatsoft seats could not be used.

In accordance with the present invention, these difficulties have beenobviated. As shown in FIGS. 1-8, the side rails 113a are interconnectedby a pair of similar, symmetrically disposed metal cross-brace members 3l) disposed in upwardly extending, forwardly and rearwardly divergentplanes. Each member 30 is made of tubular metal stock and comprisesparallel end arms 31, end portions of which are flattened as at 32.Flattened portions 32 have outer flat surfaces 33 contacting the innerfaces III of side rails 13a, and extend beyond the tapered ends 330 ofthe pipe. Arms 3U also comprise tubular portions 34 from which extendinwardly curved tubular portions 35. Extending from curved portions 35are aligned, horizontal portions 36 interconnected by a downwardlydepressed or bent central tubular portion 37, through inclined tubularportions 38. Each member 30' is in a single inclined plane, preferablyof about 45. The flat portions 32 are in vertical parallel planestangent to tubular portions 34, and are fastened to rails 13a. As shownin FIGS. I to 4, flat portions 32 are each formed with an upper opening35 concentric with a horizontal opening 36 in rail 113a. Extendingthrough openings 35, 36 is a stud 37 having a screwbcad 38 at the innersurface of flat portion 32, The outer end of stud 37 is externally screwthreaded, as at 39, engaging a nut 40 having cleats at that dig into theouter surface of rail I30.

Flat portion 32 also has a hole 42 to receive a wood screw 43 screwedinto the rail 113a, to prevent rotation of the cross brace relative tothe rails. Other screws 44 pass through aligned openings in arms 31 tofirmly fix said cross brace members 30 to the rails and hence to thesidearms 13 of the chair supporting the frame.

It will be observed that each member 30 is similar and symmetrical aboutits midportion. The members 30 comprise means for supporting therecliner hardware II in the manner hereinafter explained.

In FIG. 4a, 4b, there is shown a modified cross brace member 300 similarto member 30 except that each arm has a flattened part 320 similar toflattened part 32 but formed with an outwardly extruded opening 50 todig into the wood rail 13a and a pair of countersunk openings 51 toreceive screws for attaching said members 30a to the wood rails.

The recliner hardware comprises similar, symmetrically.

disposed linkages 11 at the right and left sides of the chair. Henceonly one of the linkages (the one on the right side of the chair) willbe described.

Linkage 11 comprises an arm mounting member or plate 53- resting onportions 36 of the cross brace members 30. Each arm-mounting member orplate 53 comprises a flat horizontal flange 54 from which a verticalwall or flange 55 extends upwardly. The ends of flange 54 rest onportions 36 of the cross brace members. With said cross brace membersinclined at 45, tubular portions 36 have vertically aligned openings 36areceiving bolts 56 for attaching said arm-mounting members to said crossbrace members. The wall 55 of member 53 has a rearwardly and downwardlyinclined finger or lug extension 58 and a forwardly extending finger orlug extension 59. It is also formed with a substantially horizontalcentral slot 60 disposed above flange 54 and with an outwardly recessedstrap portion 60a forming a slot 61 with said flange.

Pivoted to strap 60a as by rivet 62 is a short anchor link 63 to theupper end of which is pivoted, as by rivet 64, a secondary lifter link65. Pivoted to the outer end of link 65, as on rivet 66, is one end of arear carrier link 67. The upper end of link 67 is pivoted as by rivet 68to one end of a seat mounting link 70 attached to a seat frame 71 (FIG.I). Said seat frame 71 comprises parallel side members 72 running fromfront to rear, inside of and in spaced relation to rails 13a, andinterconnected at the front by front crossrail 73 and at the rear by arear crossrail 74. A front piece 75 is attached to the part of frontcrossrail 73 and a rear piece 76 is attached to the rear of rearcrossrail 74. The seat-mounting link 70 is attached to the inner surfaceof seat side member 72. The main front portion of the seat-mounting link70 runs substantially parallel to the side member 72. It is formed withan upwardly bent rear end portion 70a which carries the rivet 68 at itsupper end. Pivoted to said rivet 68 is a back-mounting link 77 to whichthe chair back 78 is attached. The chair back 78 comprises side members79 in vertical planes interconnected by a crossrail 80. Link 77 is bentto provide arms 77a, 77b joined at a juncture 77c. At the juncture 77cis a rivet 81 which connects a rear control link 81a to a rivet 82located at the lower end of finger extension 58 of the arm-mountingmember 53. It will be noted that rivet 82 is located rearwardly ofportion 36 of the rear cross brace 30 and below the level of flange 54.

Pivoted to wall 55 of arm-mounting member 53 as at 84 is the rear end ofa primary lifter link 85 which crosses secondary lifter link 65 and ispivoted thereto by a rivet 88.

Pivoted to seat-mounting link 70, as at 89, is a bellcrank 90. Bellcrank90 has an arm 91 from which an arm 92 extends at an acute angle. Thefront end of primary lifter link 85 is pivoted, as at 93, to anintermediate portion of arm 92 of bellcrank 90. The upper end of arm 92is pivoted on said rivet 89 to said seat-mounting link 70. The juncture94 of arms 91, 92 of bellcrank 90 is pivoted as at 95, to one end of adrive link 96. One end of a rear ottoman link 97 is pivoted, as at 98,to the front end of seat-mounting link 70. Said drive link 96 is pivotedas at 99 to said rear ottoman link 97 at a point spaced from pivot 98.

Pivoted to the outer end of arm 91 of bellcrank 90, as at 100, is asequencing link 101. Said link 101 has an arm 102 at an obtuse angle toa second arm 103. Arm 103 has a longitudinal slot 104. Fixed to fingerextension 59 of the arm-mounting member 53 is a headed pin 105 having ashank slidable received in slot 104.

Link 97 is Z-shaped, having an upper arm 97a (pivoted at 98), anintermediate arm 97b and a third arm 97c. Pivot pin 99 is locatedbetween arms 97a, 97b.-The outer end of arm 97c is pivoted, as at 110,to an intermediate portion of a lower ottoman link 111. The rear end oflink 111 is pivoted, as at 112, to the outer end of a rear ottomancontrol link 113. The upper end of said link 113 is pivoted as at 114 tothe seat-mounting link 70, rearwardly of, and in spaced relation topivot 98, and forwardly of, and in spaced relation to pivot pin 89.Fixed to seat-mounting link 70 is a stop pin 115 located between pivots1 14 and 98.

Stop 115 is positioned to engage an edge of link 113 when the linkage 11is opened to TV position, as shown in FIG. 6, and to maintain said linkin such position as the linkage moves from said TV to the fully reclinedposition of FIG. 7.

Pivoted to an intermediate portion of arm 970 of link 97, as at 117, isone end of an upper ottoman link 118. The opposite end of said link 118is pivoted by pivot pin or rivet 119 to one end of an ottoman mountingbracket 120 and also by said pin or rivet 119 to one corner of asubstantially triangular-shaped ottoman guard 120a. Another corner ofsaid guard 120a carries a pivot 111a pivoted to one end of link 111.Said end of link 111 has an offset lug 111b pivoted as by pivot 111C toone end of a short link 122. The other end of said link 122 is pivotedby pivot 123 to bracket 120. The upper end of said ottoman guard 120ahas an offset flange 120!) overlying pivot 119. Ottoman-mounting bracket120 has an extension 1211c provided with an offset flange 120d which islocated at the top, in the open position of the linkage. Flanges 120b,120d support the transverse ottoman parts, not shown.

When the linkage is in the closed position of FIGS. 1 and 5, the seatframe 71 is almost in horizontal position and the chair back 78 isalmost in vertical position. The entire linkage is supported on thecross brace members 30. The divergence of said members 30 puts the uppermounting holes further apart to get maximum bearing area. The middlebend in the tubes provide clearance for a sagging seat when the chair isoccupied, thereby allowing for use of softer seat springs withoutbottoming out, The metal cross braces are strong and prevent thesidearms from separating.

On vertical wall 55 of member 53 is a stop pin 125, located on the frontend of finger extension 59, and it is contacted by the primary lifterlink in the closed position of the linkage as seen in FIG. 5. At thattime, the pivot pin 105 is located at the lower end of slot 104, insequence link 101, and prevents the chair from moving into fullyreclined position because the primary lifter link 85 is pivoted, as at93, to the bellcrank and the bellcrank is pivoted, as at 100, to thesequence link.

The leg-rest or ottoman-supporting links must first be projected. Thepivot pin being at the lower end of slot 104, an upward movement of themechanism or linkage is prevented because the lower end 102 of theslotted sequence link is a rigid strut which prevents movement of thebellcrank 90. The opposite end of the slot provides the final stop infully reclined position, as seen in FIG. 7. The sequence link thus hastwo purposes.

The ottoman-supporting bracket and guard (120, a) go completely underthe chair. The movement of the ottoman mounting brackets is delayeduntil the seat has reached the maximum upward position (as distinguishedfrom backward movement).

The seat moves upwardly and rearwardly from closed position as thelinkage moves from the closed position of FIG. 5 to the TV position ofFIG. 6. The bracket 120 moves slowly (stays almost horizontal) until thescat-mounting link has reached its maximum upward motion. By that time,the ottoman bracket 120 has reached its lowest limit relative to thefloor. This bracket 120 first moves slowly and then faster. Pivots 111a,111a and 123 are almost in a straight line in the closed position ofFIG. 5. As a result of the angular displacement of these three points,relative to pivot 119, is a small vertical displacement for a givenangle, and then a larger vertical displacement for a continued movementof same angular extent.

As we go from closed position of FIG. 5 to the TV position of FIG. 6,the bellcrank 90 pivots about pivot 93 to move the seat-mounting link 70vertically and horizontally to change its angle by means of the rearcarrier link 67. The seat-mounting link 70 is rotated clockwise, lookingat FIGS. 5 and 6, so that its rear end moves down. During this movement,the chair back maintains its position relative to the seat mounting linkby means of the rear control link 81a, but moves down relative to thefloor, thereby increasing the seat pitch or the incline of the seatrelative to the floor.

Now, going from TV position of FIG. 6 to the fully reclined position ofFIG. 7, pressure on the back of the chair, acting through back-mountinglink 77, lifts the rear of the seatmounting link 70 by action throughthe rear carrier link 67 and the secondary lifter link 65 which isacting on the anchor link 63, which is pivoted to the arm-mountingmember 53 at pivot 62.

The lifting of the front of the seat is simultaneously caused by thesecondary lifter link 65 acting through pivot 0% on primary lifter link85 which is pivoted to the bellcrank 90 at pivot 93. This bellcrank 90is connected to the seat-mounting link 70 at pivot point 89.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an article in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and asvarious changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it isto be understood that all matter, herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative only.

lclaim:

1. Cross brace means to interconnect sidearms of a chair support,comprising a cross brace having a transverse portion to extendtransversely of said chair support, and parallel aligned portionsextending from the ends of said transverse portion and adapted tocontact inner surfaces of said sidearms, said cross brace comprising atube, the ends of said parallel portions comprising flattened tubeportions closing the ends of said cross brace and having parallelsurfaces substantially tangent to the outer sides of said parallelportions, said transverse portion having a central depressed portionextending in a direction opposite to said parallel portions, parts ofthe transverse portion on opposite sides of said central depressedportion, being formed with pairs of diametrically opposed openingslocated on axes inclined to said parallel portions.

2. The combination of claim 1, said flattened portions being formed withopenings to receive fastening means for attaching said cross brace tosaid side arms.

3. A chair support comprising sidearms, a pair of spaced cross bracesinterconnecting said sidearms, each cross brace having a pair ofparallel portions and a transverse portion interconnecting said parallelportions, similar symmetrically disposed right and left recliner chairlinkages comprising annmounting members mounted on the ends of thetransverse portions of said cross braces, said linkages being disposedbetween the parallel portions of said cross braces, and means to attachsaid parallel portions to said sidearms.

4. The combination of claim 3, said cross braces being located inupwardly divergent angles.

5. The combination of claim 3, said cross braces being made of metaltubes.

6. The combination of claim 3, the transverse portion of each crossbrace having a central depressed portion extending away from theparallel portions of said cross brace.

7. The combination of claim 4, the transverse portion of each crossbrace having a central depressed portion extending away from theparallel portions of said cross brace.

8. The combination of claim 7, the ends of said parallel portions beingflattened to close said-metal tubes, said flattened portions contactinginner surfaces of said sidearms.

9. The combination of claim 8, said linkages comprising seat-mountinglinks, seat members attached to said seatmounting links, a leg-restmeans, and link means interconnecting said seat-mounting links, leg-restmeans, and arm-mounting members, to permit said seat means to move fromclosed upright sitting position with the leg-rest means retracted toopen reclining position with the leg-rest means projected.

10. The combination of claim 3, and means to attach said cross braces tosaid arm-mounting members.

11. The combination of claim 5, said arm-mounting members havinghorizontal flanges, said transverse portions of said cross braces havingvertically aligned holes, said flanges having holes aligned with saidholes in said transverse portions, and means passing through the holesin said transverse portions and in said flanges for attaching said crossbraces to said arm-mounting members.

l2. The combination of claim 1, in combination with a chair supporthaving sidearms, and means to attach said sidearms to said parallel,aligned portions of said brace.

13. The combination of claim I, a chair seat, means to support saidchair seat, and means to mount said chair seat support means on saidcross brace.

14. The combination of claim 13, a chair support having sidearms, andmeans to attach said sidearms to said parallel aligned portions of saidbrace.

15. The combination of claim 14, said chair seat support meanscomprising recliner chair linkages disposed between said 6parallelportions and on said transverse portions. I I

l The combination of claim 15, said linkages comprising an extensibleand retractable leg-rest means, and said chair seat support means andsaid leg-rest means being movable from an upright sitting position ofthe chair rest support means, with the leg-rest means retracted, to a TVreclined position of said chair seat support means with said leg-restmeans extended, and from said TV reclined position to a fully reclinedposition of said chair seat support means with said leg rest meansextended.

1. Cross brace means to interconnect sidearms of a chair support,comprising a cross brace having a transverse portion to extendtransversely of said chair support, and parallel aligned portionsextending from the ends of said transverse portion and adapted tocontact inner surfaces of said sidearms, said cross brace comprising atube, the ends of said parallel portions comprising flattened tubeportions closing the ends of said cross brace and having parallelsurfaces substantially tangent to the outer sides of said parallelportions, said transverse portion having a central depressed portionextending in a direction opposite to said parallel portions, parts ofthe transverse portion on opposite sides of said central depressedportion, being formed with pairs of diametrically opposed openingslocated on axes inclined to said parallel portions.
 2. The combinationof claim 1, said flattened portions being formed with openings toreceive fastening means for attaching said cross brace to said sidearms.
 3. A chair support comprising sidearms, a pair of spaced crossbraces interconnecting said sidearms, each cross brace having a pair ofparallel portions and a transverse portion interconnecting said parallelportions, similar symmetrically disposed right and left recliner chairlinkages comprising arm-mounting members mounted on the ends of thetransverse portions of said cross braces, said linkages being disposedbetween the parallel portions of said cross braces, and means to attachsaid parallel portions to said sidearms.
 4. The combination of claim 3,said cross braces being located in upwardly divergent angles.
 5. Thecombination of claim 3, said cross braces being made of metal tubes. 6.The combination of claim 3, the transverse portion of each cross bracehaving a central depressed portion extending away from the parallelportions of said cross brace.
 7. The cOmbination of claim 4, thetransverse portion of each cross brace having a central depressedportion extending away from the parallel portions of said cross brace.8. The combination of claim 7, the ends of said parallel portions beingflattened to close said metal tubes, said flattened portions contactinginner surfaces of said sidearms.
 9. The combination of claim 8, saidlinkages comprising seat-mounting links, seat members attached to saidseat-mounting links, a leg-rest means, and link means interconnectingsaid seat-mounting links, leg-rest means, and arm-mounting members, topermit said seat means to move from closed upright sitting position withthe leg-rest means retracted to open reclining position with theleg-rest means projected.
 10. The combination of claim 3, and means toattach said cross braces to said arm-mounting members.
 11. Thecombination of claim 5, said arm-mounting members having horizontalflanges, said transverse portions of said cross braces having verticallyaligned holes, said flanges having holes aligned with said holes in saidtransverse portions, and means passing through the holes in saidtransverse portions and in said flanges for attaching said cross bracesto said arm-mounting members.
 12. The combination of claim 1, incombination with a chair support having sidearms, and means to attachsaid sidearms to said parallel, aligned portions of said brace.
 13. Thecombination of claim 1, a chair seat, means to support said chair seat,and means to mount said chair seat support means on said cross brace.14. The combination of claim 13, a chair support having sidearms, andmeans to attach said sidearms to said parallel aligned portions of saidbrace.
 15. The combination of claim 14, said chair seat support meanscomprising recliner chair linkages disposed between said parallelportions and on said transverse portions.
 16. The combination of claim15, said linkages comprising an extensible and retractable leg-restmeans, and said chair seat support means and said leg-rest means beingmovable from an upright sitting position of the chair rest supportmeans, with the leg-rest means retracted, to a TV reclined position ofsaid chair seat support means with said leg-rest means extended, andfrom said TV reclined position to a fully reclined position of saidchair seat support means with said leg rest means extended.